# Numbers for publishment numbers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-for-publishment-numbers/258405 "2004-08-05T04:04:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-for-publishment-numbers/258405/1 "2004-08-05T04:04:43Z")
Anyone know of a website that lists market share of periodicals? Kinda like a Nielson type thing but for magazines. Like how many copies of Time were sold versus Newsweek. Or how many copies of SI vs The Sporting News. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-for-publishment-numbers/258405/2 "2004-08-05T05:38:55Z")
There is a non-profit organization called the Audit Bureau of Circulations, a voluntary group that audits circulation figures and publishes that information. But it is mainly for advertisers, and is generally sold, not offered for free on websites. They do have some basic lists, like the top circulation newspapers in the country, etc. available for free. But you have to pay to get any of the detailed info. Their website is [here](http://www.accessabc.com/index.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-for-publishment-numbers/258405/3 "2004-08-05T06:18:30Z")
[This page](http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/magazine/top_titles.jsp) lists the top 25 magazines by circulation (table about 1/3 the way down the page) as of the second half of 2003. The top five: > [@](#): > > 1 AARP The Magazine > 2 Reader’s Digest > 3 TV Guide > 4 Better Homes and Gardens > 5 National Geographic ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-for-publishment-numbers/258405/4 "2004-08-05T16:03:29Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > [This page](http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/magazine/top_titles.jsp) lists the top 25 magazines by circulation (table about 1/3 the way down the page) as of the second half of 2003. The top five: > 1 AARP The Magazine > 2 Reader’s Digest > 3 TV Guide > 4 Better Homes and Gardens > 5 National Geographic [hijack]Eventually all of the world’s resources will be tied up in _National Geographics_ stacked up in peoples’ basements. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-for-publishment-numbers/258405/5 "2004-08-05T20:59:15Z")
Department of Reduncancies Department? On aisle three you have a pickup on aisle three, next to the ATM machine. Thanks, and gracias. ---
**Author:** ![miamouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@miamouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miamouse)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-for-publishment-numbers/258405/6 "2004-08-05T21:32:03Z")
If you don’t want to subscribe to one of those websites, and can wait for the information: All publications I have worked on need a statement of ownership in their November issue. It usually contains circulation info. You could either wait for this years November issue to come out, or comb though last years at the library. Keep in mind, that the number sold at newsstand is usually an estimate, you’d also need to include the amount of paid subscribers. (This IIRC was one of the big points with the Rosie publication fiasco.) ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-for-publishment-numbers/258405/7 "2004-08-06T01:47:17Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Department of Reduncancies Department? On aisle three you have a pickup on aisle three, next to the ATM machine. Thanks, and gracias. Yeah, yeah, I hit submit before editing. So sue me. Or Edwards me. :dubious: